Industrial Supervisor: Chris Lyness (Jaguar Land Rover)

Academic Supervisor: Dr Rohit Bhagat, Dr Andrew Moore and Professor Richard Dashwood

Project Overview:

Lithium batteries are multi-material and component devices and experience a combination of thermal, mechanical and electrical stimuli. These devices are usually sealed, making internal examination difficult.

The Electrochemical Engineering group at WMG has state-of-the-art facilities to manufacture lithium pouch cells from their base components. This facility gives the unparalleled ability to insert sensors (thermal, mechanical, electrical etc.) during manufacture to create smart lithium batteries. These smart batteries provide a powerful means to assess the effect external stimuli and will be provide data allowing electrical/mechanical/thermal/electrochemical models to be accurately parameterised.

This research has significant industrial impact allowing JLR battery packs to be optimised for structural/electrical performance, lifetime, light weighting, cost, and design for re-manufacture.

Objectives:

• Become familiar with types of sensors that may be used within lithium ion battery pouch cells.
• Become familiar with the operation of the lithium ion batteries
• Learn how sensors can be applied during the manufacture of lithium ion batteries.
• Understand internal changes that may take place within cells under mechanical, thermal or electrical load.
• Measure internal changes in the cell from external stimuli

Key Warwick Facilities

WMG’s Energy Innovation Centre provides the facility to take active materials, coat electrodes, manufacture lithium pouch cells, and electrically and mechanically characterise them

Candidate Requirements:

Due to the source of funding, only UK or EU nationals are eligible for this position.

Applicants should have a good UK honours degree or equivalent in Electronics Engineering or other relevant discipline. A demonstrable strong interest, or experience within the degree areas of sensor technology and small signal analogue or RF electronics is desirable.

Experience of conducting experiments is also desirable.

If you are interested in applying please email us at engd<στο>warwick.ac.uk, phone us on 024 765 23837 or fill out our online enquiry form.